Antivacuum relief valve for heating systems



May 8,1923. 1,454,729

H. o. CZURTIS ANTIVACUUM RELIEF VALVE FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 7, 1920 E0. {Carla's Patented May 8, 1923.

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ANTIVACUUM RELIEF VALVE FOB, HEATTNG SYSTEMS,

Application filed September 7, 1920. Serial No. 408,535.

To all '10 7mm it may concern Be it known that HOMER O. CURTIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at South Sandisfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of li iassachusetts, has invented new and useful Improve ments in Antivacuum"Relief Valves for Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a relief or radiator valve for low pressure steam heating systems which while being sufliciently sensitive to the action of the-heat or steam to cut off or close the outlet to prevent an undue waste of steam or pressure will serve to effectively break any vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressure which may occur by condensation or otherwise to prevent the water from being, drawn from the boiler into the circulating system, and by retaining the water in the boiler result in keeping the same under the influence of the heating unit or furnace with the -resultant economy in the use of fuel for a given =dis trfbution of heat units throughout the system; and with this object in viewthe invention consists in the construction and con1- bination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the drawing wherein:

The figure represents a central vertical sectional view of a valve embodying the invention. I

\Vithin a suitable casing 10 having at its bottom a. pocket or well 11 with which com municates a passage 12 for connection at 13 with a steam circulating pipe (not shown) forming a part of the heating system, is arranged a diaphragm 14 which may be of any suitahle or preferred material adapt ing it to vield under a moderate steam pressure, and carried by this diaphragm is a valve tube 15 slidingly mounted in a guide 16 formed as an extension of the casing and serving as an outlet for air when thepressure increases in the passage 12. said valve tube being open at its inner end within the lower chamber of the casing below the diaphragm and being open at its upper end to the atmosphere.

Supported by a yoke 17 which may be secured to the casing by means of bolts 18 serving as the means by which the upper and lower sections or members of the casing are secured together, and by which the peripheral edge of the diaphragm is clamped in position in the casing, is a valve seat 19 consisting of a vplug or block held mplace for example by a screw 20 and adapted when the, valve tube is raised to fit into the conical outlet 21 of the valve tube to close the latter and thus retain the pressure in the lo-weror steam chamber of the casing. i

Located in a cage 22 which may be secured in the pocket or well 11 o-fthe casing by means of a screw lent thereof, which is adjustable to vary the horizontal plane of the inner terminal thereof, is a float 24 adapted when elevated by the accumulation of water of condensat" tion in the pocket or well and therefore in the cage, by reason of'the lateral slots or openings 25 in the latter, to seat against and close the lower end of the valve tube as indicated by the dotted lines in the drawing.

Hence when steam is admitted to the valve casing the first action as in other devices of this type is to expel air from the lower orsteam chamber of the casing through the valve tube, and when a moderate ac cumulation of water of condensation has float will be raised into closing relation with the lower end of the valve tube to cause the expansive action of the steam to be appl'ed to the diaphragm and thus communicate up- 23 or the equivav been deposited in the pocket or'we'll, the

ward movement to the valve tube to cause engagement of the upper extremity thereof with the seat 19 and thus effectua-llv cut off escape through the valve tube and hence loss of pressure and heat from the circulating system.

In the event, however of the formation of a vacuumin the circulating system tending under ordinary conditions to draw water from the bQiler and thusconstituting a d stribution in the circulating system which requires a considerable increase of steam pressure in the boiler to effect dislodgment and the restoration of the circulation, the water of condensation in the pocket or well will be drawn back through the passage 12 to permit the unseating of the float valve 24, and the diaphragm thereby being relieved of pressure will permit the valve tube to drop away from its seat 19 to provide for an influx of air to break the vacuum. The water, therefore, is not withdrawn from the boiler by reason of the formation of a vacuum or a sub-atmospheric pressure in the circulating system, but is broken immediately by the opening of the relief valve, thus retaining water in the boiler and providing the formation of an obstruction in the circulating system, to the end that a material increase in boiler pressure is not required to displace the obstacle, and as a result an efficient circulation of the heating agent through the system is maintained with a minimum consumption of fuel.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A relief valve mechanism for low pressure steam heating systems having a relief valve tube, a diaphragm operatively con nected to said tube and adapted for exposure. to steam pressure, a tube closing seat engageable by said valve tube at one end as a result of pressure applied to the diaphragm, and a fluid valve actuable by water of condensation for closing the other end of said valve tube.

2. A relief valve mechanism for low pressure steam heating systems having a casing provided with a steam chamber in communication with the circulating system, a diaphragm exposed to pressure in the steam chamber, a valve tube carried by the diaphragm and forming an outlet and inlet passage from and to the steam chamber, a tube closing seat engageable by said valve tube by pressure applied to the diaphragm, and a float valve actuable by water condensation for closing the inner end of said valve tube.

3. A relief valve for low pressure steam heating systems having a casing provided with a. steam chamber and a diaphragm exposed to pressure in the steam chamber, a float valve located in the steam chamber and actuable by water of condensation accumulating therein, a valve tube carried by the diaphragm and affording a communication between the steam chamber and the atmosphere, the inner end of said valve tube being in the path of movement of said float valve for closure thereby when actuated by water of condensation, and a seat arranged in the path of outward movement of the valve tube for closing the outer end thereof when the diaphragm is actuated by pressure in the steam chamber.

4. A relief valve for low pressure steam heatmgsystems having a casing provided with a steam chamber and a depressed pocket or well for water of condensation, a steam passage being in communication with said pocket or well for connection with the circulating system, a diaphragm exposed to pressure in the steam chamber, a valve tube carried by and movable with the diaphragm and exposedat its inner and outer ends respectively within the steam chamber and to the atmosphere, a fixed valve seat arranged in the path of outward movement of the valve tube for effecting the closing of the outer end thereof when the diaphragm is exposed to pressure within the steam chamber, a valve cage arranged in and in communication with the pocket or well of the casing,

and a float valve mounted in said cage for movement by water of condensation to seat against and close the inner end of said valve tube.

5. A. relief valve for low pressure steam heating systems having a casing provided with a steam chamber and a depressed pocket or well for water of condensation, a steam passage being in communication with said pocket or well for connection with the circulating system, adiaphragm exposed to pressure in the steam chamber, a valve tube carried by and movable with the diaphragm and exposed at its inner and outer ends respectively within thesteam chamber and to the atmosphere, a fixed valve seat arranged in the path of outward movement of the valve tube for effecting the closing of the outer end thereof when the diaphragm is exposed to pressure within the steam chamber, a valve cage arranged in and in com-- munication with the pocket or well of the casing, and a float valve mounted in said cage for movement by water of condensation to seat-against and close the inner end of said valve tube,'mcans being provided for adjusting the neutral position of the float valve with relation to the plane of the inner end of the valve tube.

' In testimony whereof he afliXes his signature.

HOMER O. CURTIS. 

